Process of treating wood to prevent decay



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. A. LUOKENBAOH.

PROCESS OI TREATING WOOD TO PREVENT DECAY.

No. 473,705. Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2..

M. A. LUOKENBAOH. PROCESS OF TREATING WOOD TO PREVENT DECAY.

No. 473,705. Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

MALAMM U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS LUOKENBAOH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PROCESS OF TREATING wooo TO PREVENT DECAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 473,705, dated April 26, 1892.

Application filed May 20, 1890. Renewed January 2, 1892. Serial No. 416,779. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARoUs A. LUOKEN- BAOH, a citizen of the United States,residingat Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Treating \Voods to Prevent Decay; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to ,make and use the same.

My invention has relation to a process for treating timberssuoh as railroad-ties and building and bridge timbers of all descriptions, either cured or green-and rendering said timbers practically indestructible by any agency except fire.

By treating timbers after my improved method they assume the color of a dark-brown or red oxide and will last for many years.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the plant of machinery employed to carry out my process. Fig. 2 is a side view of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of tank O, showing steam-coil J.

The letter O designates a tank adapted to hold a mixture of crude petroleum and oxide of iron or any other mineral that may be diffused through the oil by agitation and held in suspension for a length of time sufficient to accomplish the purpose desired.

E designates a supply-pipe connected to the steam-pump F at one end and with the tanks A B at its opposite end by the branch pipes e e, and in order that the solution may be pumped from tank 0 into the tanks A and B a suction-pipe E is connected to the tank 0 and pump F, having located in it intermediate of its length a valve m. Suitable valves m, m m and m are also placed in the pipes E, e, and e. The valves generally are designated m, except those especially referred to.

H designates a steam boiler and engine connected with a steam water-supply pump L by means of the pipe h, said pump receiving its supply of water from-a well or cistern 71 near the works.

H designates the steam-supplypipe,which is connected with the boiler at one end and has a connection with the steam-pump L through the pipe 2' and with the pump 1 through the pipe "6 In order that air may be both forced into and out of the tanks A and B, as well as to force all moisture out of said tanks when drying the timbers and opening the pores for the treatment presently described, I employ an air-compressor G, which may be used both as an exhaust and supply pump, havinga connection with the main steam-pipe 11 through the branch pipe tained in the tank O may be made more'effective, I place within said tanka coilot' pipe .I, having a connection through the pipe j with the steam-pipe H, and before pumping the solution or mixture from said tank into tanks A and B a jetof steam is allowed to en ter the tank 0, thoroughly heating and agitating the solution or mixture.

K g g designate discharge-pipes, the latter 9 9 leading from the bottom of the tanks A and B and connecting with the pipe K, and to readily admit of the solution being pumped back into tank 0 after the timbers in tanks A and B are thoroughly impregnated I extend the discharge-pipe g by an arm or branch 9 to the pump F and connect the pump with the tank O through the branch pipe g and provide said pipe between the tank and pump with a stop-valve m The pipe K, one end of which discharges into the open air, is connected to the air-compressor Gr through the branch pipe 7c.

The letter D designates a tank located in a convenient place near the tanksAand B and is provided with a discharge-pipe e which connects with the supply-pipe E. A stopvalve n is placed in said pipe between the tank and the pipe E. This tank is adapted to hold a mixture or solution of poison of any kind that is solublein wateras, for instance, cyanide of potassium.

To treat timbers after my improved method, whereby said timbers are rendered practically indestructible by any agency except fire, taken in connection with the above description and accompanying drawings, is briefly described ashfollows:

@ Timbers to be treated are placed in the tanks A and B and secured therein. The air-compressor G is then started and a supply of air forced in the tanksAand B through the pipes g E e e, the valves m and n being closed and the valves 02', n a and n in the dis- In order that the solution or mixture con- 7 charge-pipes 9 K g being open. The timbers are thus rendered dry and porous. The aircompressor G is disconnected and the discharge-pipes 9 K 9' closed and the pump F started. Connection is then made between tank 0, containing a solution or mixture of crude petroleum and oxide of iron or oxide of zinc, and the tanks A and B through the pipes E E e 6. Before the solution is pumped into the'tanks Aand B it is mechanically agitated and thoroughly heated by a supply of steam through the pipes H and j. Steam is then shut 0E and the solution or mixture pumped into the tanks Aand B by the pump F. This is allowed to remain in tanks A and B for five or six hours under a pressure of about one hundred and thirty pounds, the pump F being run slowly to hold this pressure after the solution is in the tank. The solution is then pumped back into tank 0 through pipes g g g and connection with tank 0 cut off. Tank D is now connected, containing a solution of Water and cyanide of potassium. This solution is allowed to run into tanks A and B through the pipes 62E e e, from two to four hours being consumed in the operation. ter the solution has been allowed to remain in the tanks the desired length of time, which is about two hours, tank D is cut off, the discharge-pipes are opened, and the solution allowedto passthrough pipesg,g', and Kout into the open air or into the sewer. The air-compressor is now started, which forces air through the tanks A and B anddries the surface of the timbers. The tanks are then opened and the timbers removed and exposed to the air for a few days, when they are ready for use.

In practical operation tank 0 is filled with warm petroleum, the iron ore or zinc is ground very fine and mixed in the oil, and by keeping the fluid in motion by any mechanical means and keepingit warm by the jet of steam I get a very large percentage of iron from the oxide thoroughly mixed with the solution.

While I have mentioned oxide of iron and oxide of zinc, I prefer to use iron, as it is cheaper and will accomplish the same resultviz., the preservation of the timber.

The mixture consisting of the oil and oxide of iron in suspension now is of a red or reddishbrown color and is very thin. It is While in this state forced into the timbers prepared for it under pressure of one hundred and twenty to onehundred and forty pounds. The

poisonous solution, consisting of water and cyanide of potassium, is then absorbed by the timber to a depth of from one-fourth to one:-

half inch. The small amount of water from the solution that enters the surface of the timbers soon evaporates and leaves the poison in said timbers.

What I claim is The herein-described process of treating timbers, consisting of first drying and open ing the pores thereof, then injecting a mixture of warm crude petroleum and oxide of iron under pressure, then subjecting them to a solution of poison, and subsequently drying the timbers, in the manner described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARK A. LUGKENBAOH.

Witnesses:

WELLS H. MOSES, N. B. BACHTELL. 

